|
Organisation
|
Rural
Agricultural Development Programme (RADP),
Serchhip, Mizoram |
|
Project
name
|
Enhancing
livelihoods of poor through improved
management practices on orange cultivation |
|
Grant
operationalised
|
March
2011 |
|
Duration
|
18
months |
|
Grant
amount sanctioned
|
Rs1.46
million |
Activities within
the grant and expected impact:
The proposal to RADP is to support
improved management practices of orange
cultivation covering 60 farmers of Serchhip
district of Mizoram. Farmers have cultivated
oranges over several generations; however,
they lack knowledge on proper management
practices of the orchards. The present production
levels are very poor — 1.8 tons per
hectare (as against the national average
of 10.1 tons per hectare). Problems such
as attack of insects, incidence of diseases,
drying up of plants, dropping of immature
fruits, etc, have been posing a threat to
the existence of the orchards. There is
no proper weed management in the orchards;
consequently, insects such as stem borer,
leaf miner, fruit sucker, etc are causing
havoc. During winter season, plants usually
suffer from water stress due to insufficient
rain, as well as low moisture in the soil.
The soil quality has been deteriorating
over the years due to the lack of soil management,
particularly, non use of nutrients and erosion
of surface soil.
The key objectives in this 18-month pilot
project are to:
|
|
Improve
farmers’ knowledge and skills towards
improving management practices of orange |
|
|
Adopt improved
management practices of orange cultivation
for better productivity and increasing
production |
|
|
Provide information
and support services to farmers on improved
management practices locally. |
The proposed key activities during the first
year’s support are:
|
|
Developing
capacity of farmers |
|
|
Setting up three
demonstration plots to showcase improved
management practices |
|
|
Adoption of improved
management practices in farmers' fields |
|
|
Setting up vermicompost
units |
|
|
Setting up water
harvesting systems |
|
|
Developing a suitable
agricultural extension service model
at the village level |
|
|
Formation of farmers'
club. |
The linkages with the Department of Horticulture,
Mizoram, will be developed to provide technical
inputs and other services to the farmers
and also to develop capacity of local service
providers.
It is expected that within one year, the project
will lead to:
|
|
Adoption
of improved management practices of
orange by 60 farmers |
|
|
Adoption of improved
management practices in 100 hectares
of land |
|
|
Increase in yield
from 1.8 to 2.2 tons per hectare |
|
|
Decrease in incidence
of insects and diseases by 75 per cent |
|
|
Additional income
of Rs15,000 per farmer |
|
|
Improved knowledge
of 60 farmers directly and around 200
farmers indirectly on improved management
practices through capacity development
programmes |
|
|
Setting up vermicompost
units for 30 farmers |
|
|
Setting up 30
low-cost water harvesting structures |
|
|
Formation of 3
farmers’ clubs |
|
|
Development of
an agriculture extension service model
in three villages. |
|
